jeer 1 of 2

as in snort
a vocal sound made to express scorn or disapproval ignored the jeers of the other team's fans and just focused on making her free throw shot

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

jeer

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word jeer distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of jeer are fleer, flout, gibe, scoff, and sneer. While all these words mean "to show one's contempt in derision or mockery," jeer suggests a coarser more undiscriminating derision.

the crowd jeered at the prisoners

When could fleer be used to replace jeer?

In some situations, the words fleer and jeer are roughly equivalent. However, fleer suggests grinning or grimacing derisively.

the saucy jackanapes fleered at my credulity

In what contexts can flout take the place of jeer?

The words flout and jeer can be used in similar contexts, but flout stresses contempt shown by refusal to heed.

flouted the conventions of polite society

Where would gibe be a reasonable alternative to jeer?

While the synonyms gibe and jeer are close in meaning, gibe implies taunting either good-naturedly or in sarcastic derision.

hooted and gibed at the umpire

When can scoff be used instead of jeer?

While in some cases nearly identical to jeer, scoff stresses insolence, disrespect, or incredulity as motivating the derision.

scoffed at their concerns

When is it sensible to use sneer instead of jeer?

The words sneer and jeer are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, sneer stresses insulting by contemptuous facial expression, phrasing, or tone of voice.

sneered at anything romantic

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of jeer
Noun
Facing near-constant jeers and boos from the audience, Republican U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards answered questions about Ukraine, Elon Musk and federal layoffs at a town hall Thursday evening. Nora O’Neill, Charlotte Observer, 14 Mar. 2025 Vance can be seen smiling and waving as the audience continued their jeers. Ted Johnson, Deadline, 14 Mar. 2025
Verb
Upset attendees began jeering, throwing punches, and causing damage at the venue. Natalia Cano, Billboard, 12 Apr. 2025 Robert Sanchez lost the trust of Stamford Bridge to be the team’s starting goalkeeper long ago and has been booed and jeered at times. Liam Twomey, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for jeer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jeer
Noun
  • Conclusion: The Crown is made for those who want the reliability of a Toyota SUV minus the snort and belch.
    Josh Max, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025
  • The scenes on set in this episode are all comic gold, from Billy dashing to his tent for generous snorts between takes to a musical number that culminates in Teenjus healing a young man who then tosses his crutches away and breakdances.
    Scott Tobias, Vulture, 28 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Gilgeous-Alexander even got ridiculed during his team's Game 3 loss against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
    Matt Levine, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 May 2025
  • The Bills don’t want their players, coaches or staffers ridiculed similarly.
    Tim Graham, New York Times, 22 May 2025
Noun
  • His voice—typically pitched between a bellow and a sneer—was instantly recognizable to the couple that night.
    Air Mail, Air Mail, 3 May 2025
  • In a movie climate where remakes tend to draw sneers of derision and claims that people have just gotten too lazy to invent anything new, Disney’s remakes of its own products are always a chief target.
    Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 21 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Gervais also mocked himself during his acceptance speech.
    Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 31 May 2025
  • A week later, Rogan mocked Hawass and weighed in again on skeptical theories over who built the pyramids.
    Amira El-Fekki‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 May 2025
Noun
  • Modern thinkers stopped using these concepts altogether except in quotation marks, with a wink, a smirk, and a glance backward toward the unscientific past.
    Isaac Bashevis Singer, Harpers Magazine, 26 Mar. 2025
  • Aimee Lou Wood, who played Chelsea, couldn’t believe the attention on her toothy smirk.
    Brittany Talarico, People.com, 21 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • When Ratcliffe and fellow co-owner Avram Glazer appeared on-screen, boos rang out among the 1,000-strong crowd of employees and family, once during the game and then again at full time.
    Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 22 May 2025
  • Later, boos erupted when Shipman culminated her speech.
    Nicole Acevedo, NBC news, 21 May 2025
Noun
  • League sources stifle their snickers in public while privately marveling at the owner’s ceaseless stupidity. 3.
    Jeff Howe, The Athletic, 24 Jan. 2025
  • So he must be placed in the Apparition section, next to ghosts like John Barron, sharing a snicker with Ivana.
    Greg Marotta, New York Daily News, 12 Jan. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Jeer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jeer. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.

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